Razor-blade-sharpening machine



6 Sheets-Sheet l V. T. MILLER RAZOR BLADE SMRPENINGv MACHINE Filed May 29 ./g /f c) HIHIHHun.

' A INVENT R July 24, 1923.,

/ ATTORNEY Juny 24, 1923. 11,462.49@

V. T. MILLER RAZOR BLADE SHARFENING MACHINE Filed May 29, 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 R93 agg' July 24, 11923.

- 3,462,49@ V. T. MILLER RAZOR BLADE SHAHPENING MACHINE Filed May 29. 1922 6' Sheets-Sheet 3 z/ ML 6 l 58- 6 50" l f l #.9 .r 33

e53 5l; .51( 39 Y l /6 :Q /l` g f l l /7 Il il [Il lh J v INvNToR 014i? BY i fha ATTORNEY July 24, i923. 11p/62.4190) v. T. MILLER .RAZOR BLADE SHARPENING MACHINE Filed May 29. 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 lll. 3

INVEN'ToR w29/eis: 7/ M' 49754;? Mw

, ,4419 Aomv. l

'v. T. MILLER RAZOR BLADE SHARPENING yMACHINE July 24, 1923.

Filed May 29, 1922 e sheets-sheet e INVENTOR Patented `lilly 24, 1923.

.UNITED STATES taaie@ PATENT orales.

VOLNEY T. MILLER, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNGR T ROBERT S. SPAHR, 0F KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

RAZOR-BLADE-SHARPENING MACHINE.

Application led May 29, 1922. Serial No. 564,493.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, VoLNnY T. MILLER. a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Razor- Blade-Sharpening Machines, of which the following is a specification.

.My invention relates `to improvements in razor blade sharpening machines.

One of the object-s of my invention is to provide a` novel machine which is simple,

cheaply manufactured, durable7 not liable` to get out of order, which will automatically feed the blades through and discharge them from the machine after they have been sharpened, and in which the progressive movement ofthe blades through the machine will cease, when the feeding of the blades into the machine is stopped, and in which the blade in passing through the machine will first be honed and then stropped automatically.

My invention provides further novel means for honing and stropping the blades.

`My invention provides still further novel means by which the blades may be automatically honed and stropped at opposite sides thereof. r

My invention provides still further novel means for feeding the blades through the machine during the sharpening operation.

My invention provides still further a `novel blade holder and novel means for supporting the blade holder in the machine in a manner such that the holder will accomodate itself to inequalities in the honing and stropping members. The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed., In the accompanying drawings. which illustrate the preferred embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my imr proved razor blade sharpening machine.

Fig. 2 is a top View of the same.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4:*-4 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectionalview on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmental vertical sectional view of a portion of the blade holder feeding mechanism and parts connected therewith.

Fig. 8 is a` perspective view of one of the feeding slugs.

`Fig. 9 is an enlarged Vertical sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is anv enlarged side elevation of one of the blade holders and a blade mounted therein.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged horizontal section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 12 is a horizontal section enlarged on the line 1'2-12 of Fig. 6, some of the parts being omitted, and showing -the oscillating blade holder guide section in one position.

Fig. 13 is a view similaito Fig. 12, the oscillating guide section being-shown in another position.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged Vertical section on the line 14-14 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 15 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view of a portion of the channel guide and the lower end of a blade holder mounted therein.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view on the line 16-16 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 17 is a fragmental vertical sectional view, enlarged. on the line 1717 of Fig. 10.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in the different views.

lvdesignates a suitable supporting frame on which is mounted on vertical bearings 2, Figs. l, 5 and G, a longitudinal blade supporting guide. comprising a horizontal tube 3; slotted its full length in its upper side, and which is disposed between and parallel with the adjacent fiat sides of two abrading members comprising preferably two wheels e, secured to and rotatable with a horizontal transverse shaft 5, which is rotatable in standards 6, supported by the frame 1. The wheels i are spaced apart by a sleeve 7.

Each wheel It is provided on its inner side with a central circular recess 8. Fig. 5, in which is mounted an abrading disk 9, having an inner flat side and having its outer side bearing against a plate 10, against the outer side of which bear set screws 11, by which the honing disk 9 mav be inwardly and outward-ly adjustable. The shaft 5 has two threaded portions on which are respectively litted two nuts 12, which respectively bear againstthe outer ends ot the hubs ot the wheels 4. By adjustment of the nuts 12, the wheels L1- may be adjusted longitudinally on the shaft 5, with reference to the supi porting guide 3.

Secured to and rotatable with the shaft 5, Figs. l, 2 and 5` is a pulley wheel 13, which has mounted on it a belt 14, which is mounted on a pulley wheel 15, which is secured to a larger pulley wheel 16 rotatably mounted on a horizontal stud 17 supported by the trame 1. On the pulley wheel 16 is mount' ed a belt 18,` which ismounted on a pulley 19, secured to the armature shaft 20, of an electric motor 21. By means of the gearing described the motor 21 drives the shaft One. end of the latter may have secured to it an abrading wheel 22, which may be used for sharpening knives, scissors or other articles. v v

The inner side of each abrading wheel 1- has a concentric abrading surface comprising preferably anannular sheet ot leather 23, the inner side or' which is employed for stropping the razor blades and the inner surface oit which is flush with the vinner i'lat side of the honing disk 9.

Used in connection with the mechanism just described are razor blade holders, each y of which consistsot a vertical substantially their aires horizontal.

Hat body 21, see Figs. 1, 6,- 7, 9, 10 and 17, the lower' end of which has the form of two conic :frusta disposed hase to base vwith This enlarged lower portion oic the blade holder bodyfis designated by 25, and is adapted to be slidably mounted and adapted ttor travel in the supporting guide 3, and to oscillate therein in all directions.

Each body 2d has at its upper end a fixed vjaw 26,' adapted to co-'operate to clamp a razor blade 27-with a movable aw 28, which is piveted on a transverse*screw 29 so as to be swung thereon toward and 'from the aw 26.- -f For etl'ecting such swinging,` there is provided a vertically slidable wedge plate 30, having a vertical slot 31, through which extends a screw $32, mounted in the body 24. By sliding the plate 30 upwardly, the aw 2S may be swung so` as to clamp a blade 27 ragainst the jaw 2G, aiiter which the screw 32 may be tightened to hold the wedge plate 30 yin the clamping position` The bladeholders are arranged to be fed consecutively forwardly through the guiding tube 3, by the following described mechanism. f

Sliolably mounted on the trame 1 below the guiding support El is a pawl carrying member 23?, Figs. 5, G, 7 and 111, which has pivctally mounted on its lower ends on a transverse pin a' pawl 35, having two downwardly spaced apart lprojections 36 and 37, adapted to be .alternately engaged by a block 38 secured to the upper side of a reciprocative plate 39 slidably mounted in suitable guides in the trame 1 andreciprocative below and parallel with the guiding supporting tube 3.`

For reciprocating the plate 89,@it has secured to it at its under side the upper ends of the arms of a U-shaped vertical guiding member l() in which is mounted a roller l1, which is adapted for vertical travel between the arms of the member d0, and which is rotatably mounted on a transverse pin 42, fixed in a crank L12, which kis secured to a horizontal shafted, rotatable in a bracket 45, which is supported by the frame 1. A pulley wheel 43 isrigidly secured to. the shaft L14.

A belt d6, Fig. 1, connects the pulley wheel i13 with a` smaller pulley wheel 7 which is secured to and rotatable with the pulley wheel 16.

When the latter is rotated by the motor 21, the belt 46 willrctate the wheel 413, and the roller L11, by means of the roller guiding member 10 will reciprocate the plate 39 and the block 38 once during .every revolution of the wheel 48.

When the block 38 moves to the right trom the position shown in Fig. 6, the block 38 will engagethe projection 36 ofthe pawl and by means or' the pawl will torce the member 33 to the right to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, when the roller l1 has reached the position shown in dotted'lines in said ligure.

Pivoted in the upper end of the member l on a transverse pin L18, Figs. 6 and 7, is a pawl e9, which is adapted tortravel in a longitudinal slot 50, provided. in the'bottom ot' theguiding tube 3, Figs. 6 and 7.

`When the` pawl 19 is in the position shown in dotted lines in F (i, it is adapted to engage the rear end et the portion 25, of `a blade holder which has been inserted in the supporting tube 3, as shown at theright in Fig. 6. Upon the lforward movement of the bloclr 83, due to the block `38,.engaging the projection 37 ot' the pawl 35, the blade holder thus. engaged will be lied forwardly tothe.predetermined position occupied by the second blade holder at the right in Fig. 6, at which time the forward end of the pawl 35 will engagea transverse pin 51, Fig. 6, which has its ends respectively mounted in any pair ot transverse holes 52, provided in two parallel plates 53, supported by the trame 1, parallel with the tube 3 and each Vof which on its inner side has a longitudinal succeeding blade holders are successively placed in the tube 3. rlhis pre-determined position may be varied by placing` the removable pin 5l in different pairs of holes 52. ln the event that it is not desired to place any more blade holders in the tube 3, those that have been fed to the pre-determined position may be fed forwardly through and disch rfred from the tube 3 at the left end thereof, as viewed in Fig'. 6, by placing successively in the tube 3 slugs 55, one of which is shown in Fig. 8, and each of which corresponds in length, form and size to the lower end portion of a blade holder.`

The forward end and lower edge of the pawl is beveled and is the part of the pawl which engages the lifting pin 5l.

For limiting the downward swinging of the pawl 35, there is mounted in the member 33 a transverse pin 56, Figs. 6, 7 and lll.

After the blade holders have crossed in their forward travel a vertical diametrical plane through the axes of the wheels 4, and perpendicular to the tube 3, the blade holders are laterally oscillated, so that the upper edges of the blades 27 will first be brought alternately into contact with the flat inner sides of the honing disks 9, and, later, as the holders are fed forwardly, the blades will alternately bebrought into contact with the stropping sheets 23. Thus, each blade in traveling through the machine will first be honed and then stropped by the members 9 and 23 respectively.

For supporting the blade holders vertically out of contact with the abrading` surfaces before the blade holders reach the honing position, there are provided two guiding bars 57 disposed parallel with and at opposite sides of the tube 3 and which are supported by posts 58 supported vertically on the frame l.

For supporting lthe blade holders verticallv. after the stropping operation and before they have been discharged from the tube 8, there are respectively mounted on two vertical posts supported by the frame l, two horizontal guiding plates 69, and 6l having parallel forward portions and which diverge from each other at their rear ends, see Figs. l, 2, 6, l2 and 13.

For oscillating the blade holders so that the blades 27 shall contact alternately with the flat abrading sides of the wheels Zl, after the holders have crossed the vertical plane of the axes of the abradinp` wheels, there is secured to the upper side of the reciprocative plate 39 a channel guiding member 62, which is pivoted on a vertical pin 63 mounti v ed in the plate 39, and which is adapted to be swung to different positions oblique to the line of travel of the plate 39, and which is adapted to be secured in the position to which it may be adjusted by a vertical screw 64:, which extends through the bottom of .the member 62 and through an arcuate slot 65 provided in the plate 39, the lower end of the screw 6st being provided with a nut 66 adapted to bear against the under side of the plate 39.

A horizontal transversdplate 67, Figs. 6, 9 and ll, is slidably mounted between projections 68, depending from the frame l. Extending downwardly from the plate 67 is a bolt 69 on which is rotatably mounted a roller 70, which is adapted for travel in the channel member 62, and which effects reciprocation of the plate G7 when the plate 39 is reciprocated.

A swinging frame 71 has its ends enibracing and pivo'tally supported by the tube 3, and is provided with a downwardly extendino` arm 72 in the lower end of which is supported on a transverse pin 73, a roller 7st, which is disposed between two upwardly extending plates 75, secured to the upper sideof the plate GT. `When the latter plate is oscillated.` the frame 'Tl will be oscillated on the tube 3. Carried by the frame 7l. are upwardly extending spring arms 76 and 77, which respectively support two longitudinal guiding plates 78 and 79, sec Figs 6, 9, l2 and 13, which are for the greater portion of their length disposed parallel with each other and with t-he tube 3, and which diverge at their rear ends. As shown in Figs. 9 and 1G. and also in Fig. l0, each holder body 2l has secured to opposite sides thereof two horizontal. spring plates 80 and Sl. On the rear free end of the plate 80. is mounted a roller 82, which is adapted to engage consecutively with the adjacent plates 57, 78 and GO. On the forward free end of the spring` Slis mounted a roller 83, which is adapted to consecutively engage with the adjacent guide plate 57. and plates 79 and 6l. The body 211 is provided with a transverse hole 84:. in which the rollers 82 and 83 are located.

The plates 78 and 79 may be adjusted toward and from each other by means of set screws 85. F ig. 9, mounted in longitudinal bars 8G. Figs. 2 and 9, which are supported by arms 87 which extend upwardly from the frame 7l.

From the foregoino'. it will be understood that as the frame 7l is oscillated. the blade holders will be forced by resilient pressure into the honing and stropping positions against the abradina' sides of the rotary wheels t. `After the blades have passed the vertical diametrical axial line. of the wheels l. the abradine: surfaces of the latter will be in contact with the adiacent` sides of the. blades and the contacting portions of the abrading surfaces will be VmovingI upwardly from the upper edges of the blades., so that there will be no tendencyo'f the latter to dig into the abradinq surfaces.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that, when the motor 2l is running', and the lower ends of the blaue holders are consecutively inserted Yin the tube 3, from thc rearA end thereof, and forward of the paivl in its rearniost position, said paivl will coiisecutively engage the blade holders and Will force them forwardly, until the forward limit of the movement. of the member 83 is reached, which Will be when the pin 5i. lifts the paivl 35 to releasethe pawl from the block 38, as shown in Fig'. 6. After this time, the succeeding' blade holders will force the preceding ones forwardly, and when the latter enter between the guide plates TQ and 79, which Will be at the time the. latter aline with the plates 57, as sli-own in Fin'. lil. the blade holders between the plates '78 and 79 Will he oscillated so that the blades 27 carried thereby will alternately be brought against the abrading sides of the wheels "W hen the holders are fed forwardly ont of Contact 1Vith the abrading' Wheels 1l, the holders will iass between and will be snpported in an upright position'by the guide plates 60 and Gl.

1 lf for any reason, the operator should cease feeding' 'either blade holders or slugs intothe tube il, the forni l 'feeding` of the blade holders in the machine at thetime Would cease, an d those engaged with the oscillating' frame il would be subjected to the sharpening operation until forced out of the machine by the insertion of other blade holders or slugs into the feeding; end oi: the tube 3. By lateral adjustment of the ,guide member G2, the stroke of the frame Ti may be varied, and further adjustment, with relation to the blade holders may be obtained by adjustment of the set crews By having` the bar-'e portions 25 of the blade holders formed as shown and described, the blade holders are capable of small lateral movement in any direction, so as to conform to the inequalities of the surfaces of the abrading wheels 4l.

The pawl i9 drops by `gravity to the enlgaping position. and in passing rearwardly. it will pass under the blade holder which is in the position at the right as shown in Fig. 6.

l do not limit my invention to the structure shown and described, as many modifications, within the scope of the appended claims. may be nia/l e Wit-hout departing from the spirit of my invention.

'Vhat l claim is i l. ln a machine of the kind described, a rotary abradii i' wheel having a fiat abrading side comprising a stropping surface and a honing surface concentric and iiush with each other, a plurality of blade holders, a supporting' guiding means for said holders, means for feeding said holders alongsaid guiding means, and means by Which said rotary abrading Wheel having; a fiat abrading' side coi^fi} 31' isi1ig a stropping,` surface and a honing,` surface disposed concentric with each other, a plurality of blade holders, guiding support for said holders, means for feedingr said holders' alongsaid guiding` means, and means by. which said holdersare moved to the sharpening position, with respect to said surfaces, en saidsupport, substantially set forth.

ln a machine of the kind described, a rotary abrz-ifling` Wheel having a fiat abrading side comprising a stropping surface and a honing" surface disposed concentric and flush with each other and concentric 'ith the axis thewheel, and means by which a razor blade may be brought into sharpeng relationship to said surfaces consecutircljif. substantially is set forth. i

l. ln a machine of the kind described, a rotary abrading` wheel having a flat side comprising a stropping surface and a honing.;l surface concentric With each other and 'ith the anis of the wheel, a plurality of blade holders, a. guiding' support parallel with said surfaces, on which said holders are adapted4 for travel, means `for feeding said holders along said support, and means by which said holders are moved to the sharpening 1position on said support with relation to said surfaces, after said holders have crossed in their travel a diametrical line through said Wheel perpendicular to the line of travel of said holders, substantially as set forth.

5. ln a machine of the kind described, moving4 abrading means, a plurality of blade holders, a guiding support, feeding means by which said holders are fed in successive order along said guiding support arranged to feed each holder along said-support to a pre-determined position, after Which said holder is fed forwardly on said support by the succeeding); holders and by which said holder feeds forwardly the preceding holders, and means by which said holders are moved on saidsupport to the sharpening position with respect to said abrading means, substantially as set forth.

`G. ln a machine of the kind described, moving' abrading` means, a plurality of blade holders, a guiding support, feeding means by which said holders are fed along said support in consecutive order and arranged to feed each holder to a pre-determined position, after which said holder is fed forwardly by the succeeding' holders andby which said holder feeds forwardly the pre'- ceding' holders, means by which said holders are moved on said support to the sharpening position with respect to said abrading means, and means by which the feeding means can be operated to feed said holders forwardly from the pre-determined position without the intermediac-y ofother blade holders, substantially as set forth.

7. In a machine of the kind described, a rotary abrading wheel having a flat abra-ding side, a plurality of blade holders, aguiding support, feeding means by which said holders-are fed successively along said support to a pre-determined position and by which the holders are fed forwardly ,from said position by said feeding means through the intermediacy of a succeeding blade holder mounted on said support and engaged by said feeding means, and means by which Said holders are moved on said support to the sharpening position with respect to said abrading side, after the holders nave crossed in their travel a diametrical line through said wheel perpendicular to the line of travel of said holders, substantially as set forth.

8. In a machine of the kind described, twO. abrading means, each having a honing surface and a stropping surface concentric and flush with each other, a plurality of blade holders, a guiding support on which said holders are oscillatable between and into sharpening positions with respect to said two abrading means, means for so oscillating said holders, and means by which said holders are moved consecutively forwardly on said support to said sharpening positions, substantially as set forth.

9. ln a machine of the kind described, a support, blade holders adapted for travel thereon, means for consecutively feeding said holders along said support to a predetermined position, means by which each holder on being fed forwardly to said position forces the preceding holders forwardly, and blade sharpening means arranged to cooperate with said holders when the latter are mounted on said support., substantially as set forth.

10. In a machine of the kind described, a guiding support, blade holders adapted for travel thereon, means for consecutively feeding said holders along said support to a pre-determined position, means by which each holder on being fed forwardly to said position forces the preceding holders forwardly, blade sharpening means co-operating with said holderswhen the latter are mounted on said support, and slugs arranged to be fed along said support by said feeding means, when successively mounted on said support, for feeding `forwardly the preceding holders when no more holders are mounted in traveling position on said support, substantially as set forth.

1l. ln a machine of the lrind described, a guiding support, blade holders adapted for travel along said supportin consecutive order one against the other, a frame carrying said support, blade holder engaging means reciprocative on said frame and having means for consecutively endearing said blade holders, when moved in one direction, and feeding said holders forwardly on said support, a reciprocative member arranged to engage and reciprocate said blade holder engaging means, and means actuated by said reciprocating member for oscillating.;` said blade holders during a portion of their travel along said support, substantially as set forth.

l2. ln a machine of the lrind described, two rotary wheels having respectively flat parallel adjacent abra-ding sides, a guiding support parallel with said two sides, blade holders adapted to be slidably mounted in consecutive order on said support and arranged for lateral oscillation on said support to sharpening positions with respect to said abrading sides respectively, a reciprocative member, and means actuated by said reciproeative member for feeding said blade holders along said support, and means actuated. by said reciprocative member for oscillin-.tur said blade holders on said support, substantially as set forth.

lf3. In a machine of the hind described, a guiding support, a frame supporting said support, blade holders adapted for travel along said support, blade sharpening means arranged to co-operate with said holders, a member reciproeative on said frame having a pawl arranged to engage and feed forwardly one of said blade holders when the reciprocative member is moved in one direction, a. second reciprocative irember, means adapted to connect said reciprocative mem bers by which the second member reciprocates the first member, and means actuated when the second member is moving in one direction for operating said connecting means to disconnec said members, substantially as set forth.

la. ln a machine of the kind described, a guiding support, a frame supporting said support, blade holders adapted for travel along said support, blade sharpening means arranged to co-operate with said holders, a member reciproc-artive on said frame, two pawls pivoted to said member, one pawl being arranged to engage and feed forwardly one of said blade holders when said member moves in one direct-ion, a second reciprocative member arranged to releasably engage said other pawl so as to reciprocate the first named member, adjustable means by which the last named pawl is detached from said second reciprocative member, when the latter is moving in one direction, and means for reciprocating said second reciprocative member, sul'istantially set forth.

l5. ln a machine of the kind described, two abrading wheels having parallel adjacent flat abra-ding sides, a support along which are provided two longitudinal guides, blade holders adapted for travel along said support and held from lateral oscillation thereon by said guides, laterally oscillatable guiding means forward of said guides arf' channel guide support, a frame supportii'ig the same, reciprocative member, blade holders adapted for sliding travel in said channel guide sup-port, blade sharpening means arranged to co-operate with said holders, a` paal pivoted to said member and arranged to consecutively engage and feed forwardly said blade holders in said support, and means for reciprocating said member on said frame, substantially as set forth.

17. ln a machine of the kind described, a support, blade holders adapted for travel along said support, blade sharpening means arranged to co-operate with said holders, a member reciprocative parallel with said support, means for reciprocating said member, a guiding device carried by said reciprocative member and disposed obliquely to the line of travel of said member, means actuated by said member for feeding said blade holders consecutively along said support, and laterally oscillatable guiding means adapted to engage and oscillate said holders and engaging and oscillatable by said guiding' device, substantially as set forth.

18. ln a machine of the kind described, a channel guiding support, and a blade holder having one end adapted for travel therein and arranged to swing therein in all directions, and blade sharpening means arranged to co-operate with said-holder, substantially as set forth.

19. In a machine of the kind described, a frame, a lchannel guiding support mounted thereon provided with a longitudinal slot, a blade holder having one end adapted for travel in said support, a member reciprocative on said frame, a pawl pivoted to said member and extending through said slot and adapted to engage said blade holder and to feed the latter forwardly when said member is moved in one direction, and means for reciprocating said member,` and blade sharpening' means arranged toI c0- opera-te. with said holder, substantially as set fort-h.

ln testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

voLNnr rr. MILLER. 

